Washington (CNN) - The Republican Party of Iowa has decided to move the central tabulation of returns in next Tuesday's caucuses to a secret location because of security concerns, CNN has confirmed.

State party officials refused to confirm the move, which was prompted by threats from the Occupy protesters who are vowing to disrupt campaign events in the next week. So far they have said they are not planning to disrupt the caucuses themselves, although the party is preparing just in case.
Votes in each of the 1,774 precincts will still be counted on location, and observers from the campaigns will be able to watch that process.

That precinct information will then be conveyed to the state party's tabulation center.

In a statement, Iowa Republican Party Chairman Matt Strawn would not comment on specific steps he is taking and would only say prudent actions are being implemented to guarantee security.

"The Iowa GOP is taking additional safeguards to ensure the caucus results are tabulated and reported to the public in an accurate and timely manner," Strawn said.

In the past the central tabulation has been done at state party headquarters in Des Moines.

The decision to move the vote counting was first reported by Politico.

soundoff(23 Responses)

Those who vote decide nothing; those who count the votes decide everything – Josef Stalin.

It's nice to see that vote counting will be done in secret in USA.

December 28, 2011 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |

Truth and Nothing But the Truth

OWS interference in the election process should not be tolerated for a second. Pepper spray all of them and drag them off to jail. This is pure voter intimidation. Where is our useless Justice Dept. to protect the rights of voters? Oh yeah, they'll probably sue the states if they touch the OWS scum.

December 28, 2011 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |

Natalie

Given the slimy tactics the GOP is using to block voters (prdominently Dem voters), this is not surprise that they're on the run.

December 28, 2011 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |

GI Joe

Notice the shorts and the summer dresses/

Not a current photo. Not truth in the article?

deception is such an easy thing to do to the idiots in the republican party.

December 28, 2011 01:16 pm at 1:16 pm |

ThinkAgain

Please, Occupy protestors: Protest loud and clean but DO NOT disrupt the counting of these votes. Remember, we stand for freedom. DO NOT sully our good name by employing anti-democratic tactics.

Besides, whomever Iowa picks is going to lose to President Obama.

December 28, 2011 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

GROVER NORQUIST IS A ENEMY OF THE STATE

OWS interference in the election process should not be tolerated for a second. Pepper spray all of them and drag them off to jail. This is pure voter intimidation. Where is our useless Justice Dept. to protect the rights of voters? Oh yeah, they'll probably sue the states if they touch the OWS scum.
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Don't be scared! It's just us OCCUPIERS. Protesting is not voting intimidation. What the DOJ is focused on right now is protecting voting rights from these radical governors who are intentionally trying to surpress the vote. The OWS protests have been peaceful. But I can tell you this much, let someone pepper spray me in the face and I'm gonna catch a case.

December 28, 2011 01:24 pm at 1:24 pm |

ThinkAgain

@Truth blah blah blah: "Pepper spray all of them and drag them off to jail."

You sound like the fascist you really are!

December 28, 2011 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |

ThinkAgain

Just thought of something: The ballots are being counted in secret .... sounds like the GOP has already decided who (Romney) they want to win Iowa. My guess is they're also practicing the crap they will try to pull regarding the outcome of the 2012 general election.

And people are still registered Republicans? How do you guys keep your heads from exploding over the hypocrisy of it all?

December 28, 2011 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |

Rudy NYC

Truth somebody wrote:

OWS interference in the election process should not be tolerated for a second. Pepper spray all of them and drag them off to jail. This is pure voter intimidation. Where is our useless Justice Dept. to protect the rights of voters? Oh yeah, they'll probably sue the states if they touch the OWS scum.
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You are speaking in the past tense. There have been no OWS protestors interferring with elections anywhere. How can outdoor protestors interfere with workers inside of a closed building? We have had OWS outside the NY Stock Exchange for a while now, and no one has disrupted trading, nor has it even been questioned.

Maybe they should come out and protest the potential for voter fraud. Maybe this is just another attempt to deny the public of their right to vote and have their votes counted. Maybe this is just a prelude to what we will see this fall. All states with Republican governmers will count their ballots at secret locations without observers. The Republican Party is completely nuts.

December 28, 2011 01:32 pm at 1:32 pm |

sammieb51

I'd say this poster and pic was used at this past summer's Straw Poll - don't think many folks are running around Iowa in shorts and sandals this time of year. But really OWS, this Iowa caucus is not worth sullying your name over, Iowa has only picked 2 of the last 5 presidents, I think way too much importance is attached to Iowa. The demographics in Iowa don't represent anything near the national demographics for starters.

December 28, 2011 01:33 pm at 1:33 pm |

..a laurel and hardy handshake..

Ollie, now THIS IS HIGH COMEDY – REMEMBER THE 2000 ELECTION ?
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Yes Stan, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE MOVED THE COUNTING STATIONS IN FLORIDA TO MASSACHUSETTS !!

December 28, 2011 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |

Four and The Door

...threats by Occupy protesters vowing to disrupt campaign events? Although I agree they have a right to free speech, I do not accept that they have a right to disrupt the legitimate political process which allows the voters of Iowa and other states to make their choices. This is wrong any way you look at it.

December 28, 2011 01:36 pm at 1:36 pm |

Rudy NYC

There have been no OWS protestors interferring with any elections held anywhere in the US. How can outdoor protestors interfere with workers inside of a closed building? We have had OWS outside the NY Stock Exchange for a while now, and no one has disrupted trading, nor has it even been questioned.

This is just another conservative fear tactic, to create a false crisis, and further erode your freedoms in the name of *their* security while telling you that these extreme actions are being taken for *your* security. Reminds of Republicans declaring that Saddam had nukes. Everything bit of surprising news from Republicans reminds me of that lie.

Maybe they should come out and protest the potential for voter fraud. Maybe this is just another attempt to deny the public of their right to vote and have their votes counted. Maybe this is just a prelude to what we will see this fall. All states with Republican governmers will count their ballots at secret locations without observers. The Republican Party is completely nuts.

December 28, 2011 01:36 pm at 1:36 pm |

insight

On that ticket would a choice be: "NONE OF THE ABOVE"?

December 28, 2011 01:40 pm at 1:40 pm |

Rudy NYC

Four and The Door wrote:

...threats by Occupy protesters vowing to disrupt campaign events? Although I agree they have a right to free speech, I do not accept that they have a right to disrupt the legitimate political process which allows the voters of Iowa and other states to make their choices.

This is wrong any way you look at it.
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And you, my friend, are still looking at it the wrong way. No one has done anything of the sort. You have taken the bait, hook, line, and sinker, and are completely ignoring the fact that your rights being comprimised based on fantasy allegations and wild conspiracies.

Think! No one disrupted any elections this past fall. I think that this is a prelude to what will happen come this November. Any attempt to do sequester the ballots into hiding would the dumbest thing Republicans could ever do. And they are dumb enough to try to do it, too.

December 28, 2011 01:41 pm at 1:41 pm |

cali girl

They are using the Occupy peeps for there own troubles. I am sure the repubs will know where the secret hiding place will be. Smells to me they want to have more than control over the counts but may want to sway the counts.

December 28, 2011 01:42 pm at 1:42 pm |

ST

Do OWS protesters have any sign in their faces? I really doubt if this is not to stick mud all over the name "occupiers" and make them look bad.

December 28, 2011 01:45 pm at 1:45 pm |

Truth and Nothing But the Truth

Grover - The OWS protests have been peaceful.
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Yeah, they looked really peacefull on the west coast! Honestly, how can you lie like this?

Rudy - All states with Republican governmers will count their ballots at secret locations without observers
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Makin' it up now Rudy? Where did it say "without observers"???

Demostrations are one thing but when they become law breaking MOBS, destroying property and trespassing on private property, then they need to be immediately arrested. We have zero tolerance in our grade schools, no problem with it here as well. These lawless leftist scum should NOT be allowed to interfere with ANY election process. When Obama and the Democrats get tossed next November, the cops better be ready to deal with these low life promptly.

December 28, 2011 01:52 pm at 1:52 pm |

Four and The Door

Rudy NYC
This is wrong any way you look at it.
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And you, my friend, are still looking at it the wrong way. No one has done anything of the sort.
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I am saying that even threatening disruption of the legitimate political process is wrong. It is called Voter Intimidation. It is illegal. Are you saying this is acceptable to do?

December 28, 2011 01:53 pm at 1:53 pm |

Rudy NYC

Four and The Door wrote:

I am saying that even threatening disruption of the legitimate political process is wrong. It is called Voter Intimidation. It is illegal. Are you saying this is acceptable to do?
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Of course, not. Intimidation isn't acceptable. Would you pull the fish hook out of your mouth? No one, not anyone, has intimidated anyone at the polls. The Iowa Republicans are not even talking about the polls. The Iowa Republicans are talking about sequestering all of the ballots to an undisclosed location *AFTER* the polls have closed. The Iowa Republicans are usijng the OWS protestors as an excuse to conduct a secret ballot count without any observers.

December 28, 2011 02:00 pm at 2:00 pm |

Truth and Nothing But the Truth

Rudy - The Iowa Republicans are usijng the OWS protestors as an excuse to conduct a secret ballot count without any observers.
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Lied again Rudy! NOTHING said "without any observers". Please clean up you're act. Don't want to become another Grover poster.

December 28, 2011 02:10 pm at 2:10 pm |

WiredweirdinSF

After all of the shennanigan and outright fraud Obama and the corrupt unions pulled during 2008, this is probably a sensible move. The liberal democrats showed how easy they can steal and election and they did. It was just like a union election very crooked and very rigged.

December 28, 2011 02:11 pm at 2:11 pm |

Rudy NYC

Truth somebody wrote:

Lied again Rudy! NOTHING said "without any observers". Please clean up you're act. Don't want to become another Grover poster.
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I haven't lied. Nobody said anything about OWS protesting the voters. You have been misled by propaganda again. How can you have independent observers when in the fall when you count the ballots in secret? How can you have independent observers in Iowa caucuses when you count the ballots in secret?

How can you have Democracy when you count the ballots in secret? How can you believe what the Republican Party is telling you about OWS protestors when there is little or not proof, which even *they* admit to not having.